Zimbabwe protest day flops after warning

Shops and offices opened as usual across Zimbabwe on Wednesday despite a planned “shutdown” protest against President Robert Mugabe, who has vowed to end a series of anti-government demonstrations.
Riot police patrolled in the capital Harare and other cities, with minor clashes breaking out in the second city of Bulawayo, AFP reporters witnessed.
Organizers of the planned shutdown blamed the lack of response on intimidation by security forces.
“(Shops) received threats that they would lose their licenses if they closed,” Hardlife Mudzingwa, spokesman for the Tajamuka protest group, told AFP.
“We also had a heavy police presence which was intimidating to ordinary members of the public.”
In Bulawayo, at least seven people were detained as police broke up a group of about 30 protesters, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights group said. Zivanai Muzorodzi, a civil society activist in the southeastern town of Masvingo, told AFP that business was slow during the day.
“I think there is fear among the people and they feel safer watching the situation from a distance,” he said.

Source: Arab News